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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Whitworth Opens Against Former Star Bennett, Former Pirates Qb, Guides Rebuilding Effort At Western Oregon

Both third-year coaches claim their teams are getting closer and closer to turning the corner.

For Whitworth coach John Tully, a win would give his team a jumpstart after last year’s second straight 1-8 season.

The same could be said for Western Oregon University’s Blaine Bennett, whose team is coming off a 3-7 record 1996 season and 2-7 in 1995.

Bennett, 32, is no stranger to Pirate football. He transferred to Whitworth in 1986 and played quarterback, still holding a school record for most completions in one game (43 against Puget Sound).

His father, Shorty Bennett, was the coach. The senior Bennett, who coached the Bucs from 1986-93, is an assistant at Western Oregon.

In 13 meetings between the two teams, Whitworth trails the series 10-3. The last meeting, a 35-14 Western Oregon win, was in 1994.

Although the Wolves return 15 starters (Whitworth returns 16), the game will be the debut of Boise State transfer quarterback Erik Davis. The Redmond, Ore., athlete replaces Brian Traeger. Traeger led the Columbia Football Association in passing (261 yards per game) and total offense (286) last year.

Saturday’s opener marks a change in Whitworth’s schedule. The CFA’s Western Washington, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Top 25 poll, and No. 17 Central Washington are off the schedule.

The competition will remain challenging, however, with the addition of No. 8 Montana Tech. The NAIA Frontier Conference team lost to Southwest Oklahoma 33-31 in the second round of the NAIA playoffs last year. The two haven’t played since since 1976 and will meet in Butte on Sept. 20.

The following Saturday, the Pirates play host to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in their home opener. The Claremont, Calif., college plays an independent schedule but has never faced Whitworth. Last year the Sagehens were 6-2, averaging 41 points per game and allowing 17.

In addition, Whitworth has its usual NCIC opponents that includes No. 16 Pacific Luthern on the road Oct. 26, and No. 12 Willamette, the last game of the season on Nov. 15 at the Pine Bowl.

, DataTimes